Listening to the Chandi

[Guest guest]

Namaste all,

In chapter 12 verse 11 the Goddess says, "I will accept with

love all acts of worship, offerings, and fire sacrifices, whether

performed with understanding or without it."

The Goddess also says that this text should not be chanted

"without knowledge or proper understanding."

This seems like a contradiction but Swamiji explains that the

mantras of the Chandi are to be used for personal

transformation, for self purification, and to bring us closer to

the Divine Mother. We may not have understanding but our intent

is pure. The wrong understanding is to use the mantras for

selfish gain. Swamiji says, "Don't make it a tool of your

economic benefit or as an appendage of the ego. Make it a way

of surrendering."

 

In terms of listening to the Chandi Swamiji says when we recite

the Chandi Path it is not so much what is heard outside that is

important but what we feel inside. When we chant the chandi

we have to remember that we are chanting for the Goddess

w ithin and not for an audience. The objective is to let the

Goddess within listen to the Chandi.